One-way clutch



jan. 9, 1945.

A. Y, noose: ETAL ONE-WAY CLUTCH Filed {311. 24 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 9, 1945. A.Y. noises ETAL' ONE-WAY CLUTCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1944 W MW ' inexpensively from sheet; nietaliw h A further object of the'invention is to pro vid e a one-way. clutch in which adequate circulation manuiacture.

' Patented Jan. 9, 1945 Adiel YQDodge and Carl Swanson, i 3 Rockford,lll. l

Application January 24, 1944, Serial No. 519,438

a 15 Claims.

This invention relates to one-wayclutches and more particularly to tiltable gripper type clutches for connecting rotatable, races in one relative direction of rotation, y Qne oi! the objects of they invention is to provide a one-way clutchiinwwhichtheaction of the i a grippers is not affected by centrifugal force prodisplaced from the clutch axis; This is particularly important when theclutch is used in planetary gearing or the like.

duced bygyration oi the clutch about a center a series, of tiltable grippers it which may be constructed as more particularly described and claimed in the copending application of Adiel Y. Dodge Serial No. 479,695 filed March 19, 1943.

As shownthe grippers have plain parallel sides with their ends curved about spaced centers so that when they are tilted clockwise as seen in Figured they-will disengage the races and when Another; object of the invention is to provide a. one-way clutch which will engage and disengage rapidlyas in response to impulses.

Still another objectfoi' the invention is:to provide a one-way clutch having a two parthcage' frlctionally engagingthe races to assist incontrolling the grippers. According to one important feature'thefrictional engagement is produced by a resilient construction tunctioningmsa low rate spring 'andwhich is not affected by centrifugal force.

One specific feature of the invention provides a cage part whichcanpbe fabricatedv imply and they are tilted counter-clockwise they will engage the .racesjto transmit torque therebetween. The several 'grl trs are formed with central "openings drilled atan angle somewhat greater than ninetydegres (90) to their faces through which ahelical spring H is threaded. The openings through the grippers are preferably at-such fan angle thatthe sprin'g'will 'be bent slightly as shown so that it will tend "to tilt the gripper-sin a direction. to engage the, races even though the parallel sides of the grippers have assumed a radial position for some reason.

'lhe grippers are heldin spacedposition betweenthe .racesby a cage construction formed of lubricant over the several parts and more particularly overthe innerrace is-insured. l a

Astlll 'further object, is to provide a twopart cage constructionior controlling thegrippers in the cage parts is formed with spacedTfln gefr's engagingthe grippers adjacent the'otherv cage i part. p f The above and other' ob iects andvladvantage of the invention will 'be more readily apparent irom the followingdescriptionvwhen read inconwhich relative movement or the cagepartsis limited. ilnone' preferred construction? one'ftoi it motion with the accompanying drawings, E

Figure 1 isanS end eieVatiOn with parts in secline 2-2 of Figure 1;

tion'oif a one-way clutch embodying the invention; I I t I '7 Figure 2 is a transverse section'on the broken Figure 3 is a view similar toF igure 2 oian all- 1* ternative construction; and

Figure 4 is a developedjview oi the. inner cage member of Figure 3 illustratingth steps in its sure'd at'all times. maybe oisuch; size that sufllcient space for oil xpassage is provided between the cages and their respective races at the large diameter of the cages. [This arrangement provides a. gradually by anouter-ring l2 and an inner ring [3. Each of the rings is formed with a series of peripherally spaced openings through which the ends of the grippers extend with the spring-1| lying between the' rings., As best seenin Fi2ure2, the outer ring IZ is formed with an inwardly extending flarige il atone. end and a similarly outwardly extendinglfiangeuli is formedon the inner ring its opposite end. Preferably the rings are cut i cut. sshown'at L6 to provide clearance for the spring. H. v

' 1 Inorder-that oil may circulate freely through thetclutcl'i during operation, the inner ring I3 is with inwardlyextending flanges H at its; soppositefendsin" which'notches l8 are cut.

notches provide for axial flow of to over ithei s irfacej'of the inner race and through the .unit around the spragsand into all of the workadequate lubrication is in- The inner and outer cages ingff spaces.

diminishing space for the oil film as revolution 1 takesplace; *which insures the existence ofan The clutch shown' in Figure .1 is tape to connect inner and outer coaxial cylindrical races,

not shown. Between the racesthere are arranged 55" oilfllm at' the tighter. places between cage and race. 1

. The rings are"preterablycontrolledby fric- 7 tional engagement with the races and for this purpose they may initially be, formed oval shaped so that they will /yieldingly grip the races. If de- T aired, the entire ring :may' be; pressed diametrically after being formed to give it a slight set.

Preferably, only the unflanged ends of the rings are so deformed. The inner ring is shown as formed with central projecting parts 19 to provide clearance for the spring ll.

A resilient drag mayalso be provided by bending one or more of the cross bars of the inner cage inward toward 'centerso that contact with the inner race'oc'curs at I9. If diametrically opposite bars arebent inward, the available The sides may also be cut out at 33 to provide rooves for clearing the spring H in the assembled clutch unit. In the next step the sides of the fingers 29 are bent up as shown at 34 to form the outwardly extending flanges 26 on the sides of the bars 25. In the next step the end portion '21 is bent at right angles to the fingers.

The strip may then be rolled into an annulus ,welded along one of the cross bars as indispring movement is doubled, yet the friction load is not materially increased by bendingthe bar opposite the first one. g a

With the parts assembled as shown'inFigures 1 and 2, and inserted between coaxial races, the

outer cage 12 will engage. the outer race at its] points of greatest diameter and the inner cage I3 will engage the inner race 'at its point of minimum diameter. When the inner race tends tofrotate clockwise relative to the outer race as seen in Figure 1; the inner cage member will tend to turn clockwise relative to the outer cage mem- I her and will assist the spring II to tilt the grippers into engagement with the races. When the outer race tends to'turn clockwise relative to the inner race the cage l2 will also tend to turn clockwise. relative to the inner-cagelil and will more, the friction drag of the cages while overrunning introduces a couple in the grippers counter to the couple induced by the spring member II. This reduces the wear on the contacting surfaces of the grippers.

In order to limitthe relative rotation of the cage members and thereby to limit the degree to which they can tilt the grippers, the flange [5 of the inner cage is formed with fingers 2| at one'or more points in its periphery extending between the grippers and engageable therewith closely adjacent the outer cage member. As the cage members rotate relative to each other, the fingers 2| will engage the grippers adjacent the outer cage and will limit further relative rotation between the cage members. Thus thegrippers can never be tilted to a point where they will leave the cage members.

Figures 3 and 4 illustratean alternative construction of the cage including an outer cage member 22 in the form of a cylindrical drum having no flanges thereon and having openings 23 therein through which the outer ends of the as indicated at26 to engage the grippers and has outwardly turned end portions 21 extending at right angles to the bars. The end portions 21 are connected by an annular ring 22 which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

The inner race member may be made as shown in Figure 4 from a flat strip of metal which is first punched out to leave'the edge portion 24 with a series of spaced outwardly extending fingers 29 connected thereto. In the next operation the fingers 29 are trimmed to form the cated by the weld line 30. Thereafter, the ring 28 is attached to the bent up end portions 21 and the cage member is completed.

In this construction the notches 3| and 32 form passages as shown at 35 in the completed assembly through which oil may circulate freely to insure adequate lubrication of the parts.

' While two cage parts have been illustrated throughout we'have found that for many installations, particularly where the clutch does not gyrate about a center spaced from its own axis, a single cage part is sufllcient. Since the grippers normally bear against the outer race in response to centrifugal force, the outer cage ring is omitted and only the inner cage ring is employed. In operation the outer ends of the grippers bear against the outer race and the cage part frictionally engages the inner race so that-the grippers will be tilted by the frictional effects in response to relative rotation of the races.

' the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:'

1. A one-way clutch adapted to operate between inner and outercoaxial races comprising a plurality of tiltable grippers adapted to be mounted between the races, a pair of cage rings adapted to be mounted between the races having spaced openings through which the ends of the grippers extend, the cage rings being rotatable relative to each other and at least one cage ring being formed for frictionally engaging the adjacent race.

2. A one-way clutch adapted to operate between inner and outer coaxial races comprising a plurality {of tiltable grippers adapted to be mounted between the races, a pair of cage rings adapted to be mounted between the races having spaced openings through which the ends of the grippers extend. the cage rings being rotatable relative to each other and at least one cage ring being initially non-circular whereby it will resiliently frictionally engage the adjacent race.

3. A one-way clutch adapted to OperateJbetween inner and outer coaxial races comprising a plurality of tiltable grippers adapted to be mounted between the races, an annular spring member passing through substantially central openings in the grippers and urging the grippers toward engaged position, inner and outer cage rings having spaced openings through which the ends of the grippers extend and lying on opposite sides of the spring, the cage rings being rotatable relative to each other and being formed for frictionally engaging the inner and outer races respectively.

4. A one-way clutch adapted to operate between inner and outer coaxial races comprising a plurality of tiltable grippers adapted to be mounted between the races, a pair of cage rings the grippers can be a,see,ess

adapted to be mounted between the races having spaced openings through which the ends or the grippers extend, the cagerings being rotatable relative to each other and each cage ring being formed for irictionally engaglngthe adjacent race, the cage rings being iormed with passages ior circulation of lubricant.

a g 3 spaced openings through which ends oi the grippers extend, the cage rings'being rotatable relative to each other and each cage ring being formed for irlctionally engaging the adjacent 5. A one-war clutch'adapted to operate be- I tween inner and outer coaxial races comprising plurality oi tiltable grippers adapted to be mounted between the races, a pair of cage rings adapted to be mounted between the races having spaced ,openings through which the ends oi the grippers extend, the cage rings beingrotatable relative to each other and each cage ring being termed-tor rrictionally engaging the adjacent race, the cage ring adjacent the inner race being formed adjacent its axial ends with notches forming passages for circulation of lubricant.

6. A one-way clutch adapted to operate between inner and outer, coaxial races comprising a plurality of tiltable grippers adapted to be mounted between the races, a pair of cage rings adapted to be mounted between the races having spaced openings through which the ends oi the grippers extend, the'cage rings being rotatable relativeto each other and each cage ring being formed for irictionally engaging'the adjacent race, the cage ring adjacent the inner race being formed with inwardly extending-flanges at its ends having passages therein. for circulation of lubricant.

I. A one-way clutch 'adapted to operate .be-

race, one oi the cage rings having a radial ilange at one end extending toward the other ring. and j axially. extending lingers on the flange enga eable with a gripper to limit relative rotat on between the rings.

10. In a one-wayclutoh, a cage construction toward the other, and axially extending fingers on the flange projecting into the space between the rings.

12. In a one-way clutch, a cage construction 1 for supporting a series of tiltable grippers com-, prising an annular sheet metal member having a continuous flange at one edge, spaced axially ex-.

. tending parts projecting from the flange withthe tween inner and outercpaxial races comprising a plurality of tiltable grip ers adapted to be mounted between the races, a pair of cage rings adapted to be mounted between the races having spaced openings through which the ends of the grippers extend, the cage r'ingsbeing rotatable I relative to each other and each cage ring being formed, for irictionally engaging the adjacent race, and means on the cage rings to limit relative rotation therebetween to limit the amount tilted by movement of the rings.

8; A one-way clutch adapted to operate be tween innerand outer coaxial races comprising a plurality oi tiltable grippers adaptedto be mounted between the races, 0. pair oi cage rings adapted to be mounted between the races having spaced openings through which the ends of the grippers extend, the cage rings being rotatable relative to each other and-each cage ring being iormed ior irictionally engaging the adjacent race, and means onone oi the cage ringsengaging a gr p r adjacent the other cage ring to limit relativerotation between the rings.

9. A one-way clutch adapted to operate betilting-oi the grippers, and an annular spring extending'through openings in the grippers and ends oi said parts bent at right angles, and a ring secured to said bent ends.

13. A one-waygclutch for connecting coaxial inner and outer races comprising a series of tilt- ;able grippers between the races, and a relatively thin cage ring adjacent the inner race formed with spaced openings through which the inner ends of the grippers extend, the cage ring being so constructed and arranged as to'i'rictionally,

. engage the inner race thereby to assist in controlling tilting oi the grippers.

14. A one-way clutch for connecting coaxi inner and outer races comprising a series of tiltable grippers between the races, a relatively thin cage ring adjacent the inner race formed with spaced openings through which the inner ends of the grippers extend, the cage ringbeing so constructed, and arranged as to irictiona'lly engage the inner race thereby to assist in controlling engaging the grippers .to urge them to tilt toward their engaging position. I

15. A one-way clutch for connecting coaxial inner and outer races comprising a series of tilttween inner and outer coaxial races comprising a plurality of tiltable grippers adapted to be mounted between the races, a pair oi ca e rings adapted to be mounted between the races having able grippers between the races, and a relatively thin cage ring adjacent the inner race formed with spaced openings through which the inner ends of the grippers extend, the cage ring initially being non-circular whereby it will 'resili ently i'rictionally engage the inner race.

anmr. 230mm. earn. a. swnnson. 

